MD-2
Denver Harlequins v
Denver Barbarians
Denver Barbarians flyhalf, Ryan Walker, clears to touch |
Warm in the high 70s, with high clouds and a bit of
wind on a rapidly heating Cooker Rugby Grounds at Cook Park on Saturday as
Harlequins and Barbarians settled into the Rugby Battle for Denver. 80 minutes and seven trys on and one Denver XV
had accomplished decisive, bonus-point victory.
A Harlequin
knock-on receiving kickoff put their guests on the front foot after referee
Kurt Weaver’s starting signal and Barbarians claimed ball, remaining in
possession and moving steadfastly forward until the crosstown crew’s flyhalf,
Ryan Walker, slung a lengthy cut-out out to the centers and first five-eighths
Luke Tripp made the linebreak at the Quins 22, finishing fast for a fiver and
the early lead: 5-nil to the travelers, in the fifth minute of action.
Porter, in center with ball tucked, en route to goal |
Barbarians
caught laying about the breakdown midway, and the boot to touch saw a Quin
lineout won 10 meters from their opponent’s tryline. Toss won and the steady,
patient maul to goal before tighthead Luke Porter slipped free on the short
side and crashed over goal for the leveler: everyone had a handful at eight
minutes.
![]() |
Quins tighthead Porter a determined and happy chappy post-try |
Home side
experiencing much success with back-three flyers Paul Bordenkircher, Mike Boyle
and Tim Flynn scorching the earth with jinky, hotstepping counters while
Barbarians banging away with superb lineout taps and outright filches by leaper,
UNC alum Joshua Spencer, and tightly-worked pick-and-goes from their forwards
led by hooker, Marco Aguirre.
Quins with
one-to-three meter gainers from breakdown, moving with patience from the
visitor’s ten-meter line and into their 22 with intent. Flanker Tim Burbach
broke to space for a 15-meter dash to goal; his grounding and its subsequent
conversion by standoff Steve Zaugg put Harlequins in front 12-5 after 17
minutes.
Hometeam’s
infringing at breakdown causing turnover ball just now and handling errors
aplenty, while Barbarian mishandles out wide transferred possession in
maddening fashion; travelers also taking the ball standing in the three-quarterline,
enabling their adversaries’ rush defense to engage and disrupt possession.
Barbos
closed the gap with a sticksplitter by Walker from in front of the posts and
12-8 in the 26th minute with Harlequins yet ahead.
Harlequins
full back, Tim Flynn, snagged the cutout pass near midfield, hit the gap and
outraced the chase for a 50-meter score and the numbers changed to 17 and 8 in
the 36th minute, which is what the board showed at Weaver’s halftime
whistle.
With Barbos
on attack at the host 10 meter line, an errant catch in the centers allowed wing
Mike Boyle to scoop the jounce and scoot 60 meters to touch down for a handful of
points after re-start and it was 22-8 in the 42nd minute.
A superb bit
of close communication by the hosts for 50 meters along touch saw fullback
Flynn extend the lead with a grounding for his brace making the significant
figures 27-8 in the 47th minute.
Yellow
ticket issued to the Quins first center and Barbarians looking keen to capitalize
on the one-man advantage in the 57th minute. Barbos into Harlequins
business district, short meters from goal for five+ minutes, banging away at a
Quins defense that sagged-yet-contained onslaught after smashing attack at the
goaline; Men in Green were turned away by a Quin poach at breakdown and Zaugg’s
clearance kick to touch.
Harlequins wing,
Paul Bordenkircher, well into the mix all match long in action reminiscent of
the great Welsh flyer, Shane Williams, collected a Zaugg looker in space and
closed for a last try converted by Zaugg: 34-8 for the record at Weaver’s final
blast.
Scoring
Harlequins – Try: Porter, Burbach, Flynn (2), Boyle, Bordenkircher; Con: Zaugg (2);
Barbarians –
Try: Tripp; Pen: Walker
Match Official: Kurt Weaver
noto: with Coach Angus Peacock on location at Rugby World Cup, remainder of the Harlequins instructional triumvirate, Dave Lausa and Mark Price, piloted Harlequins to victory.
No comments:
Post a Comment